Birthday party-At the movies?

[WendyK]

What are your thoughts on having a birthday party at the movies? We are trying to come up with an original idea for TJ's 5th birthday. We went to see CARS last weekend and he LOVED it... You can have a birthday party with the whole theater to yourself before it opens for the public along with popcorn and drink... So the time would be around 9 am...Then they have a small rooms for cake, presents etc.

What are your thoughts on this as a parent?

[TtownAnne]

Fun idea! And you don't have to deal with feeding everyone, so that's a bonus.

[Clare]

When I read the thread title, I thought "no way" b/c I assumed that you would be in a normal session with other patrons, but if you have the theatre to yourself I think it's a brilliant idea! I'd love it if our cinemas would do that.

[JustJen]

We were thinking of doing this for our oldest son Austin's birthday. I had no idea they'd rent out the whole theater. That is really a great idea!!
Have to remember that for next year.

[Bridget]

I think it sounds very fun! I wonder how expensive it is. Sounds like a great idea for theatres.

[WendyK]

My only concern is it's expensive. $410.00 and all you get is movie, popcorn and drink.... for 20 people. 10.00 for each additional person. You are basically paying for the theater for your party. Plus you get the little party room before after the movie. These prices are based on the super cool theater in our area. I am sure the discount theater would be cheaper but they are not showing CARS.


Do you think it would be weird to have a party at 9 am? I love the idea too I am just not sure about 3-6 years old sitting through a whole movie... Then again, they can run around because we will be the only people there...

My other concern is do you think you would go if you have already seen the movie? I fear many of our friends will have already seen CARS and the parents will not want to sit through the movie again.

Would you expect more food to be served? I was thinking about maybe donuts or bagels since it's so early in the morning.

[Bridget]

I didn't have any idea what the price would be, but if I had guessed I would have guess $300-400. Not cheap, but not through the roof.

I think 9AM is early, but most people with kids are likely up anyway. :lol: Plus, there's something to be said about getting them early in the day when they are still fresh AND the party is over leaving the bulk of the day free!!!

I think you could lose some kids who have already seen the show, but when is the party? If you let people know early enough they may hold off taking their kids to see it just to go to your party instead. That's what I'd do. :biggrin:

I definitely think you need to have something to eat, although it would be after the movie, correct? I can't imagine wanting to give my three year old a bunch of popcorn at 9 AM but maybe that's just me??? Are you allowed to have other food in the theatre? What about offering donuts, milk jugs, etc. to snack on during the film?

A cool party favor might be lightsticks on strings. The kids could wear them during the film. You can also get light up cups. I got that stuff for Caleb's party from Oriental Trading and the kids loved it.

[Alyssa]

I think it's a cool idea, but well above what I'd want to spend on a 5th birthday party. (But that's another thread that's already been done. :) ) I personally also think it's high for the movies when it might be asking a lot of a bunch of 3-6 year olds surrounded by friends to concentrate on a movie that they very well may have seen on their own already. They might just as well prefer to play with their friends than sit still that early in the morning.

I am not trying to be Negative Nelly, b/c I think it's a neat idea. But I am not sure my boys would sit still for a movie at 9am (meaning so early in the day when they are full of energy) and surrounded by friends they love to run around with.

Note to Jen: I would certainly consider taking a group of older kids to the movies even in the general population anytime after age 8 or something - esp. if you go to a non-busy showing time.

[WendyK]

I definitely think you need to have something to eat, although it would be after the movie, correct? I can't imagine wanting to give my three year old a bunch of popcorn at 9 AM but maybe that's just me??? Are you allowed to have other food in the theatre? What about offering donuts, milk jugs, etc. to snack on during the film?


A cool party favor might be lightsticks on strings. The kids could wear them during the film. You can also get light up cups. I got that stuff for Caleb's party from Oriental Trading and the kids loved it.

I am not sure about other food. We will have to ask about that. I know I would want something to eat other than popcorn too! I love the milk jugs idea!! I would love to offer kiddie breakfast foods!

I LOVE the light up cup idea or light up sticks! I will definately have to look into that!!

[WendyK]

I am not trying to be Negative Nelly, b/c I think it's a neat idea. But I am not sure my boys would sit still for a movie at 9am (meaning so early in the day when they are full of energy) and surrounded by friends they love to run around with.



I agree I have those fears...I know many of my friends children may get bored. I am not 100% sold on the idea. TJ hasn't had a birthday party with friends since he turned 1 so I wanted to make this one special.

[Alyssa]

I agree I have those fears...I know many of my friends children may get bored. I am not 100% sold on the idea. TJ hasn't had a birthday party with friends since he turned 1 so I wanted to make this one special.Is there anything else that he's into? Do you want to avoid having it at home? How many kids are you talking?

[WendyK]

I really don't want to have it at home. Right now TJ is REALLY REALLY into CARS... To the point I can only call him Lightening McQueen and not TJ and he goes around all day saying "KaChow". Well at least right now he's really into it... I don't know how long this will last. Thomas the train lasted 3 years.


We have looked into the standard Pump it Up, Safari Sams (Like Chuckie Cheese) but they are all going to be around 300.00 too.

Total children if they all show up will be around 18-22. Too freaking many in my opinion! This neighborhood that we moved into last year we can't invite 1 family without inviting them all. Add them to our close friends and their children we are up to 18-22 children. :woa:

My other race car idea would be to have everyone bring their power wheels and have car races in our cul-da-sac. Cheesy I know!

[Alyssa]

That is a lot of kids to have at your house. I'll see if I can come up with anything...but you might just stick with the movie idea. At least it's all laid out for you and no cleaning necessary!

[WendyK]

That is a lot of kids to have at your house. I'll see if I can come up with anything...but you might just stick with the movie idea. At least it's all laid out for you and no cleaning necessary!

The only good thing about having it at our house is price and 1/2 the children live within a 5 house radius and can go home quickly afterwards! What would I do if it was raining?

I will be willing to take any ideas. I really don't want to spend 400-500 dollars on a birthday party.

[Clare]

I think that 5-6 yr olds would be fine at the movies, but I'd be worried about the younger ones. I wouldn't think that people wouldn't come if they've already seen it - we're currently watching Finding Nemo for about the eleventy billionth time, kids don't have any problem with repeats! I also think that 9am is fine as long as you're not having it at home. I always have parties in the afternoon at home, but that's b/c I need the day to prepare.

But it sounds like you've gone off the idea anyway. What about having a CARS theme at home or at a park? I'll see if I can think of any ideas.

[Clare]

I really like this site for party ideas.
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/html/party_ideas.html

If you search "cars" you should get a list of racing car party ideas. I don't think there's anything out there based on the movie yet, but you could always adapt the movie characters into your games, invitations, favours etc.

[WendyK]

Thank you for the link Clare! I am not totally off the idea. Actually the more I think about the more I like it... It's just the cost that gets me... However my alternatives are not that much cheaper unless I have it at home.

We did look into renting a pavillion at our locals park and they were all booked up.. We checked several parks.

[WendyK]

Thanks for all the advice but I think we are skipping this... We called the theatre today and they could not guarentee CARS and apparently they do not rent the whole theatre to you for just birthday parties. They section it off for you. It's was a lot cheaper than I expected 275.00 for 20 childrent and 5.50 for each adult but I don't want to share the theatre with other children. That was going to be half the fun..

Back to square 1... I think we are just going to have it at our house.

[LISA]

Our theatres have been doing this for years but you don't get the theatre to yourself..here is a package I found online for Cineplex
http://www.cineplex.com/upload/images/en/promo/DisneyPackages.gif